ROTTEN TOMATOES: Spider-Man 4 Script On Its Way

Spider-Man 4 Script On Its Way

Columbia hires Vanderbilt for fourth installment.

by Jeff Giles | October 31, 2007

The questions of who will be directing and starring in it remain unanswered, but Spider-Man 4 just got itself a screenwriter.

According to The Hollywood Reporter, Columbia has hired James Vanderbilt, recently responsible for the David Fincher-directed Zodiac, to write the script for the next Spidey sequel. The Reporter says Vanderbilt was apparently chosen because he wanted to take a "character-driven approach to the story rather than a focus on special effects." From the article:

Plot points are being closely guarded by the studio, though the intent is to scale back the story to include only two villains instead of repeating the "Spider-Man 3" model. The third installment, which grossed $336.5 million domestically this year, saw Spidey battle a busy triumvirate of evildoers in the forms of Venom, Sandman and Goblin and was widely reckoned as overly cumbersome with one too many plot lines.

Spider-Man 4 is the second Marvel-derived project Vanderbilt has taken on; he's also working on the Gavin Hood-directed X-Men Origins: Wolverine.

Source: The Hollywood Reporter

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(1-20 of 67 posts) | Reply

dahluzz writes:
on Oct 31 2007 06:32 AM

i'm surprised they hadn't yet included the lizard, especially since doc connors was in the first two movies (maybe the third as well. i don't know, i fell asleep and woke up to the abomidable sand monster trouncing around town.) His character would create some interesting moral dilemas for parker and, if animated right, could be the ravenous beast venom was supposed be but wasn't. carnage is cool, too, since he can make weapons and crap out of his hands, but I think the producers will find he's too similar to venom and more obscure. they could use the vulture for some high-flying combat sequences. i think lizard on the ground or in the sewers, vulture in the air, good villain balance. if this is any worse than 3, they're officially trying to fail.

(Reply to this)

rustdog writes:
on Oct 31 2007 06:34 AM

Watched Spidey 3 last night. It's just as bad the second time you watch it. If they want to do a 4th at least get someone who wants to take the project seriously.

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Dinalfos 2 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 06:44 AM

It better be good this time. And if Sam Raimi directs again, I'm not interested.

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0LDB0Y writes:
on Oct 31 2007 06:58 AM

I say Uwe Boll should be hired to direct Spiderman 4.

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Vicens17 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 07:23 AM

After the disgrace that Raimi gave us in 3, I really have no interest unless they change directors.

Raimi, move on.

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Merlin235 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 07:38 AM

If you actually watch the special features on SP3, you'll learn why MJ was in the climax, why Gwen was in the movie, why they did Venom the way they did, and a lot of answers to the questions people whine about on here. You'll also learn that SP3 wasn't (all) Raimi's fault, and if you actually read the text above you'll learn that they seem to have learned their lesson and moved on. If you liked SP1 and SP2, why think Raimi can't do it again with less involvement by Avi Arad, who isn't with Marvel anymore.
Everyone is allowed one mistake, in my book.

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Metafact writes:
on Oct 31 2007 07:47 AM

Good point. We're all human, and we all make mistakes. Besides, it's not as if Spider-Man 3 was like Batman & Robin or anything. Give him a chance to redeem himself, I say.

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drtruebl writes:
on Oct 31 2007 07:54 AM

In reply to this comment (#1236378)
Agreed. Seriously am I the only one who liked Spider-man 3? It was not as good as the first couple movies but was still enjoyable.

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Man_Of_Iron8905 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:09 AM

People, shut up about Raimi. As long as they don't FORCE him to add something he doesn't want to do, he'll make it great. One bad movie (not even that bad) and everyone exiles him.

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blank blank writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:19 AM

yes raimi should be excused a little for the abomination of sp3, as having venom forced upon him by the producers was unfair, and even though i really wanted to see a great venom, i can excuse him for that. that being said there are parts of the movie that i really really hate and are pure raimi.

but even if sp3 didnt suck, i would still push for a whole new team. not just raimi, but mcguire and dunst. lets have them move on to other stuff. plus, sp3 suggests a change in tone for the series from here on out. show me something we havent seen before! as long as they dont go all hack director (cough cough, brett ratner) on us, i would like to see a new vision for spiderman.

as for villains, lizard has to be one of them, and he has to be really terrifying. not terrifying to a 5 year old, but legitimately scary. the other villain im not so sure about. bring venom back for a second shot? carnage might be a little too comic booky. a less cheesy mysterio maybe? i know he's somewhat of a bit villain, but carrion? i guess we will find out. but nothing until 2010 at least please.

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tonight we dine.. IN HECK writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:23 AM

Gonna be Lizard and Kraven. Lizard is unable to control his actions, and Spidey doesn't want him dead because he's his teacher, but Kraven the Hunter is assigned to hunt down and kill the Lizard. So Spidey intervenes. :]

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blank blank writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:32 AM

nobody is exiling raimi, i would love to see him do the hobbit. its just that after setting such a high standard, he hands in a complete turd of a movie. its fine when some hack like mark steven johnson royally ****s up ghost rider, because you really dont expect much from him, but when a talented guy like raimi does it, it is very disappointing.

all of you who are defending raimi are saying "yeah he screwed up, but lets give him another chance". was sp3 as bad as elektra, or ghost rider, or FF? no, it wasnt. but isnt it safe to say that you guys were expecting much much more out of SP3?

and merlin, in my opinion, if i have to watch 5 hours of special features to begin to understand why i should like the movie, then the movie probably sucks.

again, im not blasting raimi when i say that they should bring in a whole new team, im just saying its time for a shift for the franchise as a whole.

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Xavier Telouran writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:36 AM

There's still plenty to choose from, but let's just let the writer do the producing, not Avi, not Sam, and sure as hell not Ted Raimi. One idea: let's show some love for everyone's favorite punching bag the Rhino and beat him up in an opening sequence. No plot, no depth, just a few minutes of carnage with America's Dumbest Criminal. Then move on to whomever we're really fighting.

A list of some still-availables: Kraven, Lizard, Mysterio, Carnage, Electro, Chameleon, Scorpion, The Spider-Slayers and the Smythes.

Idea Two: Crossover. The Human Torch has been in the comics since way back, so isn't it time Chris Evans crossed over for at least a bit part in one of these Spidey movies?

(Reply to this)

Xavier Telouran writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:37 AM

Whoops, that's writer do the writing, not producing. Darn my lack of editing qualifications...

(Reply to this)

Heath Huxall writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:50 AM

Well, this is good news IMO. At least we know (well, we can assume we know) that the writing of this film will be much better than in the previous Spidey. Hopefully along with a change in vision with the screenplay, we'll also get a change in vision in film direction. Time for change.

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black_parade writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:54 AM

Ok listen up you wanna be's. Spider-Man is deeper than a guy in a costume, the movies are actually about the moral dilema of a person who is a superhero. Granted the third should have been shorter and they should have saved Venom for a later movie, it wasn't completely terrible. And to OldBoy never say anything for the rest of your life. Uwe Bll sucks butt and should crawl under a rock and die. Doc Conners has only been in two movies. And the 4th should be about the lizard and Kraven the Hunter coming to new york to hunt him. Peter knowing it's doc conners would try to save him, turning the city agaisnt him, Giving the film so moral like the others. Standing for whats right even though everyone else is against you. Sam Raimi is perfect to direct and produce spider-man. They would have to pick someone awesome if they don't use him for me to even considner seeing the 4th

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Merlin235 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 08:54 AM

Blank Blank....true, if you have to watch special features to make the movie better, that isnt' a good thing. But I found it really interesting to know that Gwen Stacy was supposed to be in the finale, but they insterted MJ b/c they thought it lacked any emotion with Gwen. It's more for people complaining about why Venom looked the way he did, than for someone who complains about the silly dance scene. There's no explaining that one away.
As for villains, I'd do Venom and the Lizard. I'd keep Topher, make him all scarred from getting so burned in SP3, keep his voice deep like they did when he was possessed by the symbiote, and make him buff up considerably. Get in the good Dr. Connors to help Spidey combat Venom, while also creating the Lizard. It might actually be too much, but at least we'd be down to two villains. I personally like the one villain approach, but that's just me. They can't do the 'crazy scientist' theme for too long, if the only did the Lizard in this one I'd be the first one complaining.

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blank blank writes:
on Oct 31 2007 09:10 AM

i like topher grace, and i liked him as a dark peter, but i hated his take on venom. i would go with another character being taken over by the symbiote. and i'd have mary jane go off to LA and be a successful actress while peter gets to know gwen stacy more.

the best thing about the spiderman movie is j.k simmons. he is hilarious as jjj.

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Sparky123 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 09:21 AM

I would love see Sam Raimi helm another Spidey movie. He is a true Spidey fan and wants to do the hero justice. As for the next villains, I would love to see Rhino and Electro. How cool would those two characters be? Or maybe the Scorpion. I always loved the Scorpion as a kid.

Also, J.K Simmons is the perfect JJJ.

(Reply to this)

TheGreatOne13 writes:
on Oct 31 2007 09:33 AM

Zodiac was awesome so this is great news

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